Yr. Weekend, Pt. 2: Muhammad Ali + Wheel Workers + Featherface + Fired For Walking + Rainbow Dragon + Colourmusic + More

Saturday today (July 16th), and while the rain’s scuttled my own weekend beach-going plans, sadly, there’s a crapload of stuff going on right here that’s very, very cool besides. I’m honestly not sure where to start, there’s so much of it…

Let’s see… On the quasi-mysterious side, there’s a big, big one at some place called The Ponderosa that I have zero info on. I’m guessing this is a house show, so if you’re in the know, well, you’re in luck — cool, subversively loose-limbed indie-rockers {Muhammad Ali} are headlining, and they’re playing alongside cool, metal-ish dudes {Peloton}, bluesy/garage-y rawk guys {Giant Princess}, and the ever-entertaining B L A C K I E.

On the somewhat more official end of things, there’s a great-looking show at The Mink tonight, with cool, thoughtful indie-rock outfit {The Wheel Workers}, nicely murky alternarock crew {Jealous Creatures} (who are almost ready to release their new full-length, I’m told), and awesome psych-pop guys {Featherface} all opening for all-girl band The Coathangers, about whom I know nada, sorry.

Tonight’s lineup over at Rudyard’s is somewhat close to my heart, too — not only are fun, grunge-tinged alternarock dudes {Fired for Walking} playing (as are The Last Cigarette, who I don’t know and can’t find anything about online), but so is Austin band Rainbow Dragon, who I seriously need to see.

The reason I’m really liking the show is because the band includes an old buddy named Hector Lanza on guitar, a guy whose name may look familiar to folks who were around H-town back in the mid-’90s — Hector was in a long-gone band called Big Top, of which yours truly was a big, big fan and was lucky enough to be able to play with quite a few times. Oddly enough, another ex-Big Top-er, bassist Lisa Gallo is also playing tonight, with her new band Jealous Creatures… I haven’t heard a lot of Rainbow Dragon yet, unfortunately, but what I have heard definitely sounds interesting.

Up at Fitzgerald’s, there’s a good lineup, too, with out-of-towners Royal Bangs, about whom I’ve heard great stuff, and Colourmusic, whose most recent album, My ___ Is Pink, has been freaking me out some this week.

Also on the freaking-me-out tip, over at Mango’s there’s a lineup of bizarro heavy strangeness, with Austinites The Zoltars, ex-Harlem members Grape St., and local oddballs {The Wiggins} and {Fiskadoro}. I haven’t heard the former, but I’m always entertained by the two latter bands; well worth checking out.

Across the parking lot at the Avant Garden, there’s another good lineup, albeit one that’s more on the “pretty” side than the “weird” side. Sultry singer {Winter Wallace} headlines, preceded by cool, folky boys {Poor Pilate}, and drifting, swooning shoegazers {Day Sailor}, all three of whom I like quite a bit.

Heading on out of the city center, there’s a neat-sounding one out on the Northside at The Concert Pub North — it’s a launch/re-launch party for No Cover Magazine, which I’d heard of before now but hadn’t really known much about. They’ve got a good lineup partying down with ’em, including very cool band {The Lotus Effect}.

More out there, of course; full, full list, right here:

Royal Bangs/Colourmusic @ Fitzgerald’s
Muhammad Ali/Tigeraux/Peloton/Clockpole/Exterminating Angels/White Crime/Chicken and Whiskey/Giant Princess/B L A C K I E vs. Cop Warmth @ The Ponderosa
The Wheel Workers/The Coathangers/Jealous Creatures/Featherface @ The Mink
The Zoltars/Grape Street/Fiskadoro/The Wiggins @ Mango’s
Fired For Walking/Rainbow Dragon/The Last Cigarette @ Rudyard’s
Ryan Scroggins and the Trenchtown Texans/The Umbrella Man/Wealthy Beggars @ The Continental Club
Winter Wallace Band/Poor Pilate/Day Sailor @ Avant Garden
Das EFX/Rel the Chosen/DJ Burb @ Underground Live (ex-Groundhall)
Clory Martin @ Cactus Music (3PM)
No Cover Magazine Houston Launch Party, featuring Dustin Condon (Rainchild), The Lotus Effect, Chubbs Malone and Ked, Weston Brown Band, Shadowcode, & more @ The Concert Pub North (FM 1960 & Kuykendahl)
Sweaty. Sultry. Sandy… An Art Happening by Tra Slaughter, featuring Bat City Bombshells, Ceeplus Bad Knives, & DJ Dan Castillo @ War’hous Visual Studios (4715 Main; 6-10PM)
James Hyland @ The Big Top
SRL Summerfest 2011, featuring Slow Rollin’ Lows, Hunter McKithian & The Offenders, Rodney Parker & The 50 Peso Reward, Charlie Hager & The Captain Legendary Band, Jamie Talbert, Neil Austin Imber, & Dewey Wayne @ Firehouse Saloon
Blaggards @ Big John’s
Create A Monster/A Fetish Vendetta/Sonnier Bros. @ Jet Lounge/ECHO